Legalise cannabis?

[flowwolf]

It depends where you set the bar for 'wrongness' to be honest.

My favourite comparison is to the socially acceptable drug of choice: Alcohol. Bar the odd religious doctrine, people are free to choose their stance on alcohol and being either pro or con the stuff isn't considered controversial. As a society we accept that there are side-effects of alcohol consumption, but the overall stance is that there's not a lot wrong with it on balance, especially if consumed responsibly.

Cannabis is no more detrimental to one's personal health or society in general than alcohol if consumed responsibly (leading scientists have estimated it to be less harmful in fact, but that was raised many pages ago and the anti-legalisation crowd felt it was a contentious point, so let's just meet in the middle and say they're equally harmful overall).

Therefore, from that point of view, I stand by my wording that there "isn't much wrong" with Cannabis if we take that same attitude to something of equal 'wrongness', but I'm not an idiot and am of course aware of the myriad potential health problems that can result from its use, just as I'm aware of alcohol's.

Except this is not about alcohol is it. When ever this subject comes up it always gets compared to Alcohol . As far as I am aware alcohol does not give you lung cancer or make you paranoid. The government has done everything possible to educate the public on the dangers of smoking and even banning it in public places why on earth would they now relax the laws on cannabis ?

[flowwolf]

Those ad hominem arguments appear to betray a lack of confidence that you can win the argument based on the merits of your opinions.

Most people I know who partake are educated, work for a living and enjoy it on an occasional basis without harming anyone else.

Or could it be that certain posters are showing a lack of humour ?

[Carl the Llama]

Except this is not about alcohol is it. When ever this subject comes up it always gets compared to Alcohol . As far as I am aware alcohol does not give you lung cancer or make you paranoid. The government has done everything possible to educate the public on the dangers of smoking and even banning it in public places why on earth would they now relax the laws on cannabis ?

Is liver cancer or public urination and becoming more aggressive preferable?

Edit: Also, the lung cancer bit only applies to those who smoke cannabis (like myself). It's certainly the most common form of consumption, but it can be made into food or beverages too. As far as I'm aware, alcohol users have no choice but to run the risk of getting cancer.

Edited 24 March 2013 by BoxingFoxes

[pSinatra]

Gonna have my first spliff since mid-Feb tonight

Good luck!!

Given the dangers of cannabis, you'll be lucky if you don't suffer a mental breakdown, lose your job, your teeth, your hair or get run over on your way to the 24hr to buy Snickers..

You're a bad person & I hope you can live with yourself?

[Carl the Llama]

Good luck!!

Given the dangers of cannabis, you'll be lucky if you don't suffer a mental breakdown, lose your job, your teeth, your hair or get run over on your way to the 24hr to buy Snickers..

You're a bad person & I hope you can live with yourself?

Yes I can(nabis).

[BoneDog]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...ngland-21833045

Cannabis scratch and sniff cards to track down farms

The card releases a scent that replicates the smell of cannabis when scratched

Marijuana-scented scratch cards are to be posted to hundreds of households in a bid to detect illegal cannabis farms.

Snitch bitches are going to love this! As if there weren't enough of them about already.

[flowwolf]

Is liver cancer or public urination and becoming more aggressive preferable?

But you are doing it again comparing it to Alcohol that is not what this subject is about. There is no way could I defend the misuse of alcohol as well you know.

[BoneDog]

I've been smoking weed since I was two and I'm not paranoid.

[Carl the Llama]

But you are doing it again comparing it to Alcohol that is not what this subject is about. There is no way could I defend the misuse of alcohol as well you know.

It's not about alcohol, it's about whether or not a certain drug should be made legal or not. It makes perfect sense therefore to draw comparisons between that drug and one which is perfectly legal and widely consumed and abused.

[flowwolf]

I've been smoking weed since I was two and I'm not paranoid.

That does not stop people talking about you though.

[flowwolf]

It's not about alcohol, it's about whether or not a certain drug should be made legal or not. It makes perfect sense therefore to draw comparisons between that drug and one which is perfectly legal and widely consumed and abused.

So as a government you already have one outlet for abuse that costs the tax payer millions in health care and social harm ( alcohol ) and now you want to make legal an equally destructive drug ( Cannabis ). I dont think so.

[Vacamion]

Or could it be that certain posters are showing a lack of humour ?

Oh, so labelling everyone who has smoked pot a peasant and a waster and a lowlife were attempts at humour?

Unfunny attempts, IMHO.

Maybe winking smiley icons were called for?

[flowwolf]

Oh, so labelling everyone who has smoked pot a peasant and a waster and a lowlife were attempts at humour?

Unfunny attempts, IMHO.

Maybe winking smiley icons were called for?

But that would give the game away. ;) :D

[theessexfox]

But you are doing it again comparing it to Alcohol that is not what this subject is about. There is no way could I defend the misuse of alcohol as well you know.

So why aren't you writing to your local MP to illegalise alcohol?

[Carl the Llama]

So as a government you already have one outlet for abuse that costs the tax payer millions in health care and social harm ( alcohol ) and now you want to make legal an equally destructive drug ( Cannabis ). I dont think so.

I'd very happily wager the public purse would see a net profit following the move to controlled legalisation compared to prohibition.

[flowwolf]

So why aren't you writing to your local MP to illegalise alcohol?

Too busy lobbying my MP to keep Cannabis where it belongs in the gutter.

[theessexfox]

Too busy lobbying my MP to keep Cannabis where it belongs in the gutter.

Do you want alochol illegalised?

[Daggers]

Too busy lobbying my MP to keep Cannabis where it belongs in the gutter.

You don't have an MP, you live in France.

I smell bullshit.

[jamesmilner]

ive been off it for 5 days now after years of use . my life was controlled by cannabis .i have paranoia , depression , and cost (£60/70 a week)destroying me , i also stayed in while my misses watched me smoke and she did nothing but watch telly . i have stopped coughing in the mornings , it must improve my health/mental health surely ? my sleep is poor but it will improve . 5 days is nothing i know but im gonna try hard to break this addiction . long way to go but it must be the rIght thing for me to do ?

Edited 26 March 2013 by jamesmilner

[purpleronnie]

ive been off it for 5 days now after years of use . my life was controlled by cannabis . paranoia , depression , and cost (£60/70 a week) , i also stayed in while my misses watched me smoke and she did nothing but watch telly . i have stopped coughing in the mornings , it mUst mprove my health/mental health surely ? my sleep is poor but it will improve . 5 days is nothing i know but im gonna try hard to break this addiction . long way to go but it must be the rIght thing for me to do ?

Well done mate.

[Webbo]

ive been off it for 5 days now after years of use . my life was controlled by cannabis .i have paranoia , depression , and cost (£60/70 a week)destroying me , i also stayed in while my misses watched me smoke and she did nothing but watch telly . i have stopped coughing in the mornings , it must improve my health/mental health surely ? my sleep is poor but it will improve . 5 days is nothing i know but im gonna try hard to break this addiction . long way to go but it must be the rIght thing for me to do ?

Don't come on here with your personal experiences, there are experts who say it's harmless.

P.S best of luck.

Edited 26 March 2013 by Webbo

[whoareyaaa]

ive been off it for 5 days now after years of use . my life was controlled by cannabis .i have paranoia , depression , and cost (£60/70 a week)destroying me , i also stayed in while my misses watched me smoke and she did nothing but watch telly . i have stopped coughing in the mornings , it must improve my health/mental health surely ? my sleep is poor but it will improve . 5 days is nothing i know but im gonna try hard to break this addiction . long way to go but it must be the rIght thing for me to do ?

You've got to quit at some point you don't want to be smoking it 20 years down the line and still be in the same position.

at least your are doing something about it. keep it up pal it must be the toughest addiction to quit especially if your an every day smoker

[flowwolf]

You don't have an MP, you live in France.

I smell bullshit.

True but I was just using hyperbole. I mean if I did live here my MP would spend half of his time reading my letters of protest and the other half drinking copious amounts of alcohol just to cope with the situation.

[flowwolf]

Don't come on here with your personal experiences, there are experts who say it's harmless.

P.S best of luck.

Of course they are " experts " because they have been in the same position as jamesmilner haven't they. Come on Webbo we all know what we think of " experts "

[lavrentis]

Cannabis can definitely have some drastic effects on some people if they smoke too much. I think if your mental state is fragile then this is not for you.

Fair play to James Milner who is now off it. I know someone that has been on it for years and he says he is not addicted . I think if it gets to a point where if it is as regular and normal to smoke a bong in the day as it is to get something to eat then that is when it is too much IMO. Though it is not as physically harmful as cigarettes, it does alter your mental state thus should be treated differently.

Edited 28 March 2013 by lavrentis